Demand for skilled IT professionals is expected to grow steadily throughout 2005 as the recovery in the IT jobs market gathers momentum.
The number of advertised IT job vacancies rose by two-thirds from 2003 to 2004, according to the latest Quarterly Survey of Appointments Data and Trends by Personnel Today’s sister publication Computer Weekly and research firm SSL.
The upturn has seen salaries rise for experienced permanent staff. Salaries for in-house staff stabilised at the end of 2004, with pay rises averaging 1.3%, but recruitment companies report that rates are beginning to rise for professionals with the right skills and experience.
The survey also shows rising demand for contract staff, with the number of advertised vacancies at the end of 2004 double that at the same time in 2003.
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However, businesses are hiring contractors more carefully, and offering three-month contracts rather than six-months, as was previously the norm.
